Beyond the frozen river, the lights flickered in the distance, as if depicting warmth and satiety. Udir imagined the roaring fires in the city's dwellings. The fireplace is surrounded by plush futons, which is warm.

The ice burst open, awakening the shaman who was fantasizing. Udir cursed and shivered. The freezing rain had already soaked his fur coats, and the low sun heralded a dangerous cold spell at any moment. It will be difficult to convince Sejuani to find another way. He didn't want to continue the conversation, and he didn't really want to go back to her army.

In the valley below, Sejuani's main force was marching. Victory in the war allowed the Winterclaw Clan to absorb dozens of other clans, as well as the entire Stone Fang Tribe. Now a true warmother, she has thousands of blood warriors, hoplites, mammoth riders, and icy bloodlines.

In front of the main force, the vanguard is erecting dome tents, both the dwellings of her Blood Pact and the outposts of scouts. The blue pole marked Sejuani's tent, embroidered with runes, towering in the middle of the camp.

Udir drooled down his long chin as he walked forward, his teeth rattling from the excruciating hunger. At first he thought it was his own feelings, but he soon saw a wolfhound running past him. He yelled at the dog, trying to control his jaw and get rid of the animal's intrusive consciousness.

He found Sejuani helping the Blood Pact set up a tent.

Udir laughed proudly. This is Sejuani's demeanor, doing everything herself. Setting up a mammoth skin tent on muddy ground is a chore. Sejuani stabbed a fanged spear into the mud, stumbling and falling to her knees. The nearby Blood Alliance warriors also suffered in the icy rain, and curses came and went, responding to each other.

Seeing Sejuani standing up with her spear in her hands, Udil once again felt that she had grown into a strong woman with broad shoulders. For Udir, Sejuani will always be the skinny little girl he met many seasons ago. Maybe he hoped in his heart that she would never grow up. She desperately needed his guidance. But now, in a few years, Udil fears that he will become a burden and a burden to her.

"Look at the weather, we don't have to fight anymore, Udil." Her voice drowned out the rain.

"To the west, we will be to the Valchin tribe in a few days," said Udir, "and we will not have to cross the river, we can make a surprise attack" The consciousness of a dozen passing horses filled Udir's mind. He felt their frozen muscles shiver involuntarily. Udir said harshly to the nearest horse, "Shut up and no oats"

Sejuani's blood alliance was startled and couldn't help but look at each other. Sejuani glanced at them sternly. The Blood Alliances immediately turned back to their work. No matter how outlandish her shamanic behavior is, even they have no right to intervene.

Udir hid his hands behind his back and took a silver spike from his pocket. He tucked the tip of the thorn into his palm. Although it wasn't as effective as meditation, the pain cleared his mind and allowed him to concentrate on talking like a normal person.

"It's only six days' journey to Walchin," Udir snorted, "and their village is not walled. ”

Sejuani waited until his eyes settled before answering.

"We're running out of time, Udir." Sejuani gestured to the slump tent beside her. "We must take the city on the other side or we will freeze to death," she gestured to several of the older warriors nearby, "most of them have given their rations to their children." Yesterday, I helped Ogay bury her daughter. Sejuani's lips, which had turned dark purple from the cold, pursed bitterly. The child lived for two summers, but he looked so small and small that he seemed to have just lived to the first spring. She sighed, looked away, and continued, "I'm not going to let any of my children freeze or starve to death because of my decision. ”

"Then strike right away." Udir pointed to the city on the other side. "Believe in axes and muscles, claws and teeth. The old way. ”

"The old way is to send the strongest warriors," she interrupted, "and what clan is stronger than the bears, and without their help, how many people would we have to die before we can cross the river, and I have promised my people strength and victory, and I must not watch my army starve to death." She pressed one hand on Udil's shoulder, "I know you have good reason to worry about them"

"I'm worried about Ash's army," Udir pushed back. "Every day a new clan bows to the banner of your enemies. Every month, a new tribe submits to Alvarossa. You said you were going to make Winterclaw stronger, right, if we fought with the bears, we wouldn't leave slaves behind. No warrior will be reborn as a clan ally. Those who lose will kill all living beings in that town, and they will not stop until they are killed. ”

"Our name is Winter's Claw. They are our kindred. She explained, "I started this war, as long as I say stop"

"The bear man never listens to orders" The pain in the palm of his hand is nothing, and the determination in his heart makes Udil completely sober up. He lowered his voice. "Their bloodlust is contagious. Eat us up and wipe us clean. ”

"I've always valued your advice since I was a child," Sejuani thought as he had just said, "but we must conquer that city tomorrow." She said categorically.

"You've survived harder times." Udir's mind began to spiral out of control, and the consciousness of pigs, horses, wolves, people, and Ernuk all crashed into his mind. He resisted with all his might, knowing that this was his last chance to dissuade Sejuani.

"Sejuani," he said, as a last resort, "Khogiya has had many failures, and she is too easy to compromise and too easy to admit defeat. I know how disappointed you are as a mother. But the real cowardly of our clan is your grandmother. She's always afraid of being looked down upon, she's scared"

"You can't slander Grandmother Hijjan." She warned.

"Even Gorgya knows how to avoid your grandmother's mistakes." As soon as the words came out, Udir realized that he had crossed the line.

"Grandmother Hij'an, let me leave my mother, was she wrong?" Sejuani's eyes burned with anger. "Wouldn't it be better for me to become a cow in the south, like my mother, should I lie on the throne like her, and the wine pond meat forest can't go to war, so I'm not qualified to be in power." "The only mistake my grandmother made was to condone my mother's rule," said Sejuani coldly. ”

"Hijian raised you for her own ambitions."

"That's why I look up to her."

There was no closeness or respect in Sejuani's tone. "I must summon the lost. You can help negotiate with the bears, or die in the storm yourself. ”